Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide is a kinase inhibitor sold in the U.S. under one brand, for non-small-cell lung carcinoma and melanoma. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Kinase Inhibitor
- Treats (across its forms)
- Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma and Melanoma
- Available as
- Powder · Tablet
- Sold as
- Mekinist
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Not in our catalog
How trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide is dosed
From the FDA label for Mekinist (application NDA204114). Other trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
The recommended dosage of MEKINIST in adult patients is 2 mg orally once daily. The recommended dosage for MEKINIST in pediatric patients is based on body weight. ( 2 ) 2.1 Patient Selection Melanoma Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E or V600K mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with MEKINIST as a single agent or in combination with dabrafenib [see Clinical Studies (14.1, 14.2)] . Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of BRAF V600 mutations in melanoma is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics . NSCLC Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with MEKINIST and dabrafenib [see Clinical Studies (14.3)] . Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of BRAF V600E mutations in NSCLC is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics . ATC Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with MEKINIST and dabrafenib [see Clinical Studies (14.4)] . Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of BRAF V600E mutations in ATC is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics . Solid Tumors Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with MEKINIST and dabrafenib [see Clinical Studies (14.6)] . An FDA-approved test for the detection of BRAF V600E mutation in…
Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: New Primary Malignancies [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1)] Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] Colitis and Gastrointestinal Perforation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] Venous Thromboembolic Events [see Warnings and Precautions (5. 4 )] Cardiomyopathy [see Warnings and Precautions (5. 5 )] Ocular Toxicities [see Warnings and Precautions (5. 6 )] Interstitial Lung Disease/Pneumonitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5. 7 )] Serious Febrile Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5. 8 )] Serious Skin Toxicities [see Warnings and Precautions (5. 9 )] Hyperglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5. 10 )] Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5. 12 )] There are additional adverse reactions associated with dabrafenib. Refer to the dabrafenib prescribing information for additional information. Most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) for MEKINIST as a single agent include rash, diarrhea, and lymphedema. ( 6.1 ) Most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) for MEKINIST in combination with dabrafenib include: Unresectable or metastatic melanoma: pyrexia, nausea, rash, chills, diarrhea, vomiting, hypertension, and peripheral edema. ( 6.1 ) Adjuvant treatment of melanoma: pyrexia, fatigue, nausea, headache, rash, chills, diarrhea, vomiting, arthralgia, and…
Who shouldn’t take trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide
None. None. ( 4 )
Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide drug interactions
MEKINIST is indicated for use in combination with dabrafenib. Refer to the dabrafenib prescribing information for additional risk information that applies to combination use treatment.
Every trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide product we track (1)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Only one: Mekinist.
What people report to the FDA about trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 101 reports naming trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide, and the FDA flagged 96% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- pyrexia24 reports
- malignant neoplasm progression21 reports
- diarrhoea15 reports
- dyspnoea13 reports
- vomiting12 reports
- liver disorder10 reports
- abdominal discomfort9 reports
- fatigue9 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 26, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide?
Mekinist (Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide) is a kinase inhibitor used to treat Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma, Melanoma.
What kind of drug is trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide?
The FDA classifies trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide as a kinase inhibitor. Kinase inhibitors block protein kinases, the enzymes that relay 'grow and divide' signals inside cells. By shutting down the overactive kinase signals that a tumor depends on, they help slow or stop cancer cells from multiplying. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What forms does trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide come in?
Across the brands we track, trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide is currently marketed as powder and tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide?
We do not currently list a generic-labelled trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/trametinib-dimethyl-sulfoxide
- MLA
- “Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/trametinib-dimethyl-sulfoxide.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.